Texas 21.5 blackjack card game

ABSTRACT

TEXAS 21.5 BLACKJACK game utilizes a fifty-two card deck with aces through nines and 16 bonus cards (four “W&#39;s”, four “X&#39;s”, four “Y&#39;s”, and four “Z&#39;s”). The bonus cards are worth 10 unless dealt with an Ace on the initial deal. A hand equals “21.5” when it includes the initial combination of a bonus card and an ace. The player may hit, double-down, split a pair or surrender to acquire a final player hand when the player/dealer&#39;s face-up card is not a bonus hand. When the total point values are each greater than “21.5”, with the player/dealer point value being closer to “21.5” than the player point value, the player loses. The TEXAS 21.5 BLACKJACK game can also be adapted to be played on a digital video system, like on a typical video slot machine or live over in a digital video format over the internet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the general field of casino gaming and, more particularly, is a variation of the game of commonly known as blackjack. Furthermore, this invention relates to a card game such as would be played at a casino and to a table, special deck of cards, player positions and wager card and bet placement areas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blackjack is a game played at a semicircular table with seven player stations equally spaced on the table's top near an arcuate edge thereof. There is an imprint of a circle at each player station. A player places cheques or chips representative of a wager within the circle. A player/dealer is positioned near a straight edge of the table. The player/dealer faces the player. Blackjack is played with one or more standard decks of cards. An ace dealt to a player has a point value of either “1” or “11” at the election of the player; a face card (jack, queen or king) has a point value of “10” and each of the remaining cards (“2” through “10”) have a point value equal to what is alternatively referred to as a “pip” value or a number value of the card. Point values of cards held by the player are added together to obtain a player total point value. A player/dealer total point value is obtained in a similar manner.

After the bets are placed within the imprinted circle, the cards are shuffled and the player and the player/dealer are each dealt a hand comprised of two cards. The cards of the player's hand are dealt face-up. A first card of the player/dealer's hand is dealt face-down. A second one of the player/dealer's hand is dealt face-up.

Whenever the player/dealer face-up card is either an ace or has a point value of “10”, the player/dealer ascertains the point value of the face-down card without revealing it to the player unless the player/dealer total point value is “21”. When the two cards of the player/dealer hand cause the player/dealer total point value to be “21”, the player/dealer is said to have blackjack whereupon the player/dealer turns the face-down card face up. Similarly, when the two cards of the player hand causes the player total point value to be “21”, the player is said to have blackjack.

When the player/dealer has blackjack, the player/dealer wins the wager with two exceptions. A first exception occurs when the player/dealer's face up card is an ace and the player posts cheques or chips representative of what is known as an insurance bet which is typically equal to one half of the wager. When the player/dealer does not have blackjack, the player loses the insurance bet. When the player/dealer has blackjack, the cheques or chips representative of the wager and the insurance bet are returned to the player.

The second exception occurs when the player has blackjack whereupon the cheques or chips representative of the wager are returned to the player. The second exception is an example of when the player hand and the player/dealer hand have the same total point value and is referred to as a push.

When the player has blackjack and the player/dealer does not, the player wins the wager. When neither the player/dealer nor the player has a blackjack, the player has four options.

A first option is to have the player hand augmented by an additional card (referred to as a “hit”). The player may have successive hits until the player total point value exceeds “21”. When the total point value of a hand exceeds “21” it is said to bust. The player loses the wager when the player hand busts. Therefore, busting is a sudden, catastrophic termination of play for the player.

A second option is not to have the player hand augmented by the additional card (referred to as a “stand”). The player may stand at any time that the player hand has not busted.

A third option, referred to as doubling down, permits the player to double the wager and receive one additional card.

A fourth option is available when the player hand is comprised of two cards that are a pair, such as a pair of queens, for example. The player may split the pair into first and second player hands. An additional card is dealt to the first player hand and to the second player hand, each of which are played as described hereinbefore.

The decision to hit or stand is made with an objective of causing the player total point value to be closer to “21” than the player/dealer total point value without busting. It should be understood that central factors in making the decision are the player/dealer's face-up card and the player total point value.

After the player stands, the player/dealer's face-down card is turned face-up, whereby both cards of the player/dealer hand are faced-up. When the player/dealer total point value is less than “17”, then the player/dealer must hit until the player/dealer total point value is at least “17”. When a hit causes the player/dealer hand to bust and the player hand has not busted, the player wins the wager.

It should be understood that when an exemplary hand includes an ace and a six, for example, it is referred to as a soft “17” because the ace causes the exemplary hand to have alternative point values of “7” and “17”. Usually, the player/dealer hand cannot be hit when it is the soft “17”, although some casinos have must hit “soft” rules.

When neither the player hand nor the player/dealer hand busts and the player/dealer total point value exceeds the player total point value, the player/dealer wins and vice versa. When there is a push, there is no winner; the cheques or chips representative of the wager are returned to the player.

A desirable aspect of blackjack is its simplicity. However, is blackjack can be made more interesting by providing play that requires an inclusion of bonus cards in the decks of cards and by providing play instead of the bust when the player point value exceeds “21”. The inclusion of the bonus cards and providing play when the player point value exceeds “21” need not be a compromise of simplicity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, TEXAS 21.5 BLACKJACK is a game that utilizes a fifty-two card deck with aces through nines (the standard spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds) and 16 bonus cards (four “W's”, four “X's”, four “Y's”, and four “Z's”. The bonus cards are worth 10 unless dealt with an Ace on the initial deal. The bonus card is worth 10.5 points when dealt with an Ace on the initial deal. A player and a player/dealer are each dealt a hand of two cards. One of the player/dealer's cards is dealt face-up; the other is dealt face down. The bonus card and Ace combination is considered a Bonus Blackjack 21.5 and pay one and one half if dealt to a Player or if dealt to the payer/dealer wins all hands unless another player also has a Bonus Blackjack 21.5 in which case, the player and the player/dealer push.

A bonus is a hand that consists of a bonus card and an ace that are initially dealt to a player or player/dealer. The bonus outranks all other hands. A hand has a total point value of “21.5” when it includes the initial combination of a bonus card and an ace. The player may hit, double-down, split a pair or surrender to acquire a final player hand when the player/dealer's face-up card is not a bonus hand. When a player/dealer hand has a total point value that is a soft “17” or less, a player/dealer must take a hit to acquire a final player/dealer hand. When the final player hand and the final player/dealer hand have total point values that are greater than “21.5” A) If the payer's and the payer/dealer's cards match exactly, the hand is a push or tie. Examples of this are: If the player's hand is 9, 8, 6 (23 total) and the player/dealer's hand contains a 9, 8, and 6 or if the player's hand is Bonus Card, 6, 9 and the player/dealer's hand contains a Bonus Card, 6 and 9. When the total point values are each greater than “21.5”, with the dealer point value being closer to “21.5” than the player point value, the player loses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These advantages may be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a typical poker table, showing the general position of the player/dealer station and a first design of eight player's stations.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the table, showing the general position of the player/dealer station and a second design of the eight player stations.

FIG. 3 is representation of the modified card deck used in conjunction with the present invention game, showing an ace card, a bonus card, and with a nine card and a two card representing the range between the nine and two card yielding 32 numbered cards.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the preferred method of play.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIEMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the eight hand table to be used for the card game with a playing surface. Nothing particular about the design of the table is important to the present invention as long as it serves to provide access to a typical card game with individual stations. The table generally designated 10 can be very similar to or may be a conventional poker table as used in gaming casinos. The table 10 is generally elliptical or “D” shaped with a vertical support 22 may be one piece as shown or a veneer wrapped around legs (not shown). In addition a foot rail (not shown) may be attached to the support 22 for the feet of the players.

The top of the table 24 is fitted with a playing surface or “felt” 26 which is usually a green felt pad with various indicia printed thereon for various player positions or player stations designated 18. The player stations 18 have a rectangle shaped card placement area 28.

The table 10 is also equipped with a player/dealers area 14 that is positioned in the back of the table and facing the player stations 18. The player/dealer area 14 has a four card receiving area 16 used for placement of the players/dealers cards.

The particular table 10 illustrated in the drawings is designed to allow eight players represented by the numbers “1” to “8” therein to play there around. Thus, on the felt 26 there are illustrated eight player stations designated 18. As represented in FIG. 1, the eight player stations are designed in a “Las Vegas” style. The player/dealer can be referred as the house/banker in the “Las Vegas” style.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the table 12 and the general position of the player/dealer station 14 and a second design of the eight player stations 20. The table 12 is also equipped with a player/dealers area 14 that is positioned in the back of the table and facing the player stations 20. The player/dealer area 14 has a four card receiving area 16 used for placement of the players/dealers cards. The particular table 20 illustrated in the drawings is designed to allow eight players represented by the numbers “1” to “8” therein to play there around. Thus, on the felt 26 there are illustrated eight player stations designated 18. The player stations 18 have a six circle betting area 29. As represented in this FIG. 2, the eight player stations are designed in a “California” style.

Object of the Game

The object of Texas 21.5 Blackjack is for the players and the Player/Dealer to add the numerical value of their cards and:

-   Achieve the best possible point total of 21.5 by getting a “Bonus”     card and an Ace on the initial two cards dealt. This hand pays 3 to     2. -   Get as close to 21.5 as possible, without going over. -   Draw additional cards if needed.     Value of the Cards

TEXAS 21.5 BLACKJACK is a game use a fifty-two card deck with aces through nines (the standard spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds) and 16 bonus cards (four “W” bonus cards, four “X” bonus cards, four “Y” bonus cards, and four “Z” bonus cards). The games can be played with a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of eight (8) decks.

-   A “BONUS” card 34 and an Ace 32, on the initial deal, is the best     possible hand. It is known as a Texas 21.5 Blackjack and pays 3 to     2. -   One “BONUS” card 34 dealt with any other card is worth 10 and is     added to the other card(s) point total. -   An Ace 34 has a value of either 1 or 11. -   All cards from two 36 to nine 38 equal their face value. -   “BONUS” cards 34 have a value of 10 unless dealt with an ace 32 on     the initial deal.

Ranking Chart CARD VALUE BONUS* 10 or 10.5 when initially dealt w/an ace Ace 1 or 11 Two 2 Three 3 Four 4 Five 5 Six 6 Seven 7 Eight 8 Nine 9 *Bonus card is worth 10, except when dealt with an Ace on the first two cards of the initial deal, whereupon, it will be worth 10.5 and the hand a Texas 21.5 Blackjack when the player/dealer has a Texas 21.5 blackjack, there will be no draw and all hands will be compared to the player/dealer final total.

1^(st) EXAMPLE

HAND RANKING 1 21.5 initial draw bonus/ace ace/bonus 2 21 6-7-8 7-7-7 ace/bonus 3 20 ace-9 bonus-bonus 7-7-6 4 19 bonus-9 ace-8 9-5-5 5 18 8-6-4 7-7-4 bonus-8 6 17 5-5-7 ace-6 bonus-7 7 16 5-5-6 bonus-6 7-7-2 8 15 bonus-5 4-3-8 5-5-5 9 14 7-2-5 bonus-4 4-5-6 10 13 7-2-4 6-4-3 bonus-3 11 12 bonus-2 5-4-3 2-8-2 12 22 7-7-8 bonus-2-bonus 9-6-7 13 23 7-8-8 9-8-6 bonus-3-bonus 14 24 9-9-6 bonus-4-bonus 9-6-9 15 25 5-bonus-bonus 9-8-8 bonus-5-bonus 16 26 9-9-8 6-bonus-bonus 9-8-9 17 27 bonus-7-bonus 9-9-9 7-bonus-bonus 18 28 bonus-8-bonus 9-9-bonus 8-bonus-bonus

Now referring to FIG. 4, the flow chart of the preferred method of play is describe in more detail below.

Round of Play

-   1. Texas 21.5 Blackjack is played on a raised gaming table 10,12.     The table seats eight players 40 who face the player/dealer 42 in a     180-degree seating arrangement. The tables 10 are the standard     blackjack tables commonly used in the casino industry. The casino     player/dealer 42 stands opposite the players 40, and in the center     of the table. The casino player/dealer's chip tray is set in front     of the player/dealer. The play starts from the right of the     player/dealer 42 and proceeds in a clockwise fashion. -   2. The game uses use a 52-card deck with aces through nines (the     standard spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds) and 16 bonus cards     (four “W” bonus cards, four “X” bonus cards, four “Y” bonus cards,     and four “Z” bonus cards). The game is played with a minimum of a     single deck, totaling fifty two cards and to a maximum of eight     decks totaling four hundred twenty four (424) cards. -   3. All tables 10, 12 will have some type of signage where the name     of the game is displayed, along with the minimum and maximum wager     allowed the collection fee for the players and Player/Dealer will     also be displayed. A maximum of three collection rates is allowed in     compliance with the California Penal Code. -   4. A standard round of play begins when a Player/Dealer 42 is     designated. The Player/Dealer 42 will place an amount of money     (casino chips) in a betting circle in front of their seat. That     money will be used to pay the winners and will set the amount that     he/she can collect for the losers. The casino will place a button in     front of the Player/Dealer 42, which designates that they are taking     the “bank position and further designate whether it is the first or     second turn for the Player/Dealer 42 in the banking position. The     Player/Dealer 42 will place the collection fee in front of his/her     betting circle. -   5. Players 40 at a table then place their wager 44 in designated     betting circles. The players 40 may place a wager 44 at his/her seat     along with other unoccupied betting circles. Each player must pay     the posted collection for the wager they placed in any betting     circle where they have money or “action”. -   6. Once the Player/Dealer 42 has posted the amount of money, he/she     will wager against the other players 40, and once the players 40     have placed their wagers 44, the casino player/dealer will collect     all of the fees. This will always be accomplished before the start     of the game in accordance with the California Penal Code. The casino     Player/Dealer 42 will take the collection fees and drop them into a     locked collection box affixed to the gaming table. -   7. After the fees have been collected, the player/dealer 42 will     deal the cards to the players 40 and the player/dealer 42. All cards     dealt throughout the game are face up, with the exception of the     Player/Dealer's second card, which will remain “face down” until all     players have acted on their hands. The casino player/dealer 42 is     the only person on the table allowed to touch the cards. The players     40 will signal the player/dealer with hand gestures that indicate     whether the wish to hit or stand. The hand signals will be     consistent with the industry standard signals of a sweeping motion     towards a players body, indicating a hit, or a side to side hand     motion, indicating the desire to stand. The casino player/dealer     deals the first card to the player seated to the left of the     designated Player/Dealer, in a clock-wise manner. Each player 40     will be dealt one card face up with the Player/Dealer receiving the     last card. The Player/Dealer's cards will be placed in front of the     casino player/dealer. (The game can also be played European style,     that's were the player/ dealer get one card on the initial deal.     Each player gets one card on the first round face up, on the second     round all the players get their second card except the     player/dealer. When all players have finished their hands and have     final totals the player/dealer will draw until they have a final     total.) -   8. The casino player/dealer 42 will deal a second card to the     players in the same order noted above 48. The players 40 are given     an opportunity, starting with the player seated to the left of the     Player/Dealer 42, to be dealt addition cards 52 to make the best     possible hand. (Rules and procedures for splitting, doubling down,     and surrendering will be outlined later) -   9. Players 40 must follow the below listed Charts 1A and 1B in     deciding whether to hit of stand on a particular hand. -   10. After all players 40 have acted on their hands and indicated to     the casino player/dealer 42 that they do not want or cannot receive     additional cards, the Player/Dealers 42 down card will be turned up.     This down card will determine where the “action button” is placed. -   11. The “action button” determines where the action starts and who     will be first to be paid for their winning hand or lose their wager.     The action button is placed based on the numerical or letter value     of the Player/Dealer's down card. -   12. The Player/Dealer's hand will then be completed according to the     rules listed on Chart 1B. Once the Player/Dealer's hand is     completed, the payoff and/or collection of wagers will begin in the     seat designated by the action button and continue in a clockwise     manner until all wagers have been acted on. -   13. In the event that the Player/Dealer 42 does not have enough     money on the table to cover all the wagers 44 on the table, there     will be no free collection button, refund, or other conciliatory     action given to the affected players by the casino or the     Player/Dealer 42. -   14. The Player/Dealer's cards will always be dealt and placed in     front of the casino player/dealer's tray. The placement of the     Player/Dealer's cards is standard in all games and is depicted     below. -   15. After all wagers are settled, the cards are collected and     discarded. The bank button is changed from 1st Bank to 2nd Bank and     after every two hands, the Player/Dealer position is rotated in a     clockwise fashion around the table. -   16. The next round of play begins when the casino player/dealer     collects all the cards from the table and places them in the discard     tray. The casino player/dealer will also change the bank button, and     if necessary (if the same person has already held the Player/Dealer     position twice) rotate the Player/Dealer position clockwise to the     next position on the table. If there is no person that intervenes on     the Player/Dealer's position, the game will be “broken” or stopped,     as required by the California Penal Code.

Chart 1A Player Options Must Stand on Must Hit on Have Option on Hard 19 or more Hard 11 or less All other counts (may split two Bonus Cards)

Chart 1B Player/Dealer Options Must Stand on Must Hit on Have Option on Hard 17 or more Soft 17 or less None Game Rules

-   1. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack (an Ace and a Bonus card) 50 is the best     possible hand. If the player and the Player/Dealer's hand are both     Texas 21.5 Blackjack 50 the hand is a push of tie, and no action is     taken on the wager. -   2. If the Player/Dealer 42 does not have a Texas 21.5 Blackjack 50,     the Players 40 will be given the option to draw to improve their     hands 52, in accordance with Chart 1A above. The Player/Dealer's     down card will be checked for a “Texas 21.5 Blackjack ” when the     Player/Dealer's first or up card is an Ace 32 or Bonus Card 34. -   3. After all Players 40 have been given a chance to act on their     hands, the Player/Dealers hand will be completed in accordance with     Chart 1B. -   4. If a Player's total 54 is less than a “Texas 21.5 Blackjack” and     the Player/Dealer's total 54 is more than a “Texas 21.5 Blackjack ”,     the Player 40 wins 58 the hand. -   5. If a Player's total 54 is more than a “Texas 21.5 Blackjack” and     the Player/Dealer's total 54 is less than a “Texas 21.5 Blackjack ”,     the Player loses the hand. -   6. If a Player and the Player/Dealer have the same total 54 and it     is less than a “Texas 21.5 Blackjack ”, the hand is a push or tie.     No action is taken on the wager. -   7. If a Player's total 54 and the Player/Dealer's total 54 are less     than a “Texas 21.5 Blackjack ”, the hand closest to a “Texas     Blackjack 21.5” will win 58. -   8. If a Player's total 54 and the Player/Dealer's total 54 and more     than a “Texas 21.5 Blackjack ”, the following will apply:     -   A) If the Player's and the Player/Dealer's cards match exactly,         the hand is a push or tie. Examples of this are: If the Player's         hand is 9, 8, 6 (23 total) and the Player/Dealer's hand contains         a 9, 8, and 6 or if the Player's hand is Bonus Card, 6, 9 and         the Player/Dealer's hand contains a Bonus Card, 6 and 9.     -   B) If the Player's cards and the Player/Dealer's cards do not         match exactly, the Player/Dealer wins 58. -   9. The game is played on an industry standard Blackjack table where     up to eight primary players can be seated. -   10. All collection fees will be collected by the casino dealer,     prior to the start of play. Collection fees will be determined by     the casino and can be up to three separate rates per game. -   11. All collection rates and wagering limits will be posted at the     table. They will not be based on any percentage. -   12. Backline betting is allowed; subject to local ordinance or code. -   13. Third Party Providers of Proposition Player Services, as defined     in Section 19984 of the California Business and Professions Code,     are permitted to play.     Double-Down, Split, and Surrender -   1. Players 40 can double-down on their first two cards dealt to     them. The player 40 must place a second wager equal to the player's     original wager. The player 40 will only receive one additional card,     regardless of the total. Doubling down for less is allowed. -   2. Players 40 can split any pair or two BONUS cards 34. The player     40 must place a second wager equal to the original wager. The player     40 may draw as many cards as desired per split card. When splitting     two Aces 32, the player 40 only receives one additional card per     ace. There is no splitting for less. -   3. A maximum of three splits is allowed per hand. -   4. Players 40 can surrender after their first two cards are dealt to     them. If the up card is BONUS CARD OR ACE the casino/dealer will     check to see if its blackjack before the draw, if it's a blackjack     there will be no draw and all hands will be compared, If there is no     blackjack then the player will have the to choose if they wish to     surrender, If the player choose to surrender, half of their wager     will be forfeited. The player must indicate their desire to     surrender before the Player/Dealer's down card is exposed and before     the player has acted on their hand. Their play for the hand will     then cease. -   5. The casino will take no extra collection fee on double downs or     splits from the player or Player/Dealer 42. -   6. All payoffs are to the extent that the Player/Dealer's money     covers the action on the table. A Player/Dealer cannot win or lose     more than the entire amount of money placed on the table before the     start of the hand.     Options

The following options are available for individual casinos to cater to the needs of their customers:

-   -   Over 21.5 Options (when both the Player and Player/Dealers total         54 is more than a Texas 21.5 Blackjack 50.         Over 21.5 Variation #2:     -   a) Player and Player/Dealer both have the same (over)         total—Player/Dealer wins     -   b) Player's (over) total is closer to 21.5 than the         Player/Dealer's (over) total—Push     -   c) Player/Dealer's (over) total is closer to 21.5than the         Player's (over) total—Player/Dealer wins         Over 21.5 Variation #3     -   a) Player and Player/Dealer both have the same (over) total—Push     -   b) Player's (over) total is closer toe 21.5 than the Player/         Dealer's (over) total—Player/Dealer wins     -   c) Player/Dealer's (over) total is closer to 21.5 than the         Player's (over) total—Player/Dealer wins         Bonus Card Options

10's Version—The four “W” Bonus Cards are removed from the deck and replaced by four 10's. An Ace and a Ten (10) dealt to a Player on the first two cards would be worth 21 not 21.5.

Jacks and 10's Version—The four “W” Bonus Cards and the four “X” Bonus Cards are removed from the deck and replaced by four 10's and four Jacks. Like the 10's Version, an Ace and either a Jack or Ten (10) on the first two cards would be worth 21 not 21.5. A Bonus Card and either a Jack or 10 may be split.

2^(nd) EXAMPLE

HAND RANKING 1 21.5 initial draw bonus/ace ace/bonus 2 21 6-7-8 10-bonus ace/bonus 3 20 ace-9 bonus-10 7-7-6 4 19 bonus-9 ace-8 9-5-5 5 18 8-6-4 7-7-4 10-8 6 17 5-5-7 ace-6 bonus-7 7 16 10-6 bonus-6 7-7-2 8 15 bonus-5 4-3-8 5-5-5 9 14 7-2-5 bonus-4 4-5-6 10 13 7-2-4 6-4-3 bonus-3 11 12 bonus-2 5-4-3 2-8-2 12 22 7-7-8 bonus-2-10 9-6-7 13 23 7-8-8 9-8-6 bonus-3-10 14 24 9-9-6 bonus-4-bonus 9-6-9 15 25 5-bonus-10 9-8-8 bonus-5-bonus 16 26 9-9-8 6-bonus-10 9-8-9 17 27 bonus-7-10 9-9-9 7-bonus-bonus 18 28 10-8-bonus 9-9-bonus 8-10-10

It is anticipated by the Applicant that the Texas 21.5 Blackjack present invention can be played as digital Texas 21.5 Blackjack video type card game played on a video machine, such as a slot machine. It is also anticipated by the Applicant that the Texas 21.5 Blackjack present invention can be played as a video type “live” Texas 21.5 Blackjack card game played over the internet using an appropriate server that allows many players to participate in playing the live Texas 21.5 Blackjack type card game.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. A card game apparatus for a number of players comprising: a table having a playing surface and a periphery, a number of player stations provided around said table adjacent said periphery, and a non-playing card dealer station located between two of said players stations; each of said player stations only include a card receiving area upon which to receive cards, and at least one wagering area, and at least one collection area for receiving an amount from a player to be paid to the establishment wherein said card game is played; a deck of fifty-two playing cards comprising the standard spades, hearts, clubs and diamond aces through nines and sixteen bonus cards (four “W's”, four “X's ”, four “Y's”, and four “Z's”), said game being one in which it is played to a predetermined unique point total for players located at said player stations, wherein a card player/dealer deals two cards from said deck of cards face down which may be inspected by said player at the station adding the value of said two cards, the value being achieved from the face value of cards; from two to nine, from a 9.01 to 15.00 for all bonus cards and a from a value of one or eleven for all aces, but does not include an initially dealt hand that includes a bonus card and ace, additional cards from said deck of cards offered by said player/dealer face up to each player in rotation wanting to receive said cards in said card receiving area in an endeavor to reach said predetermined unique point total, each player playing against the other said players in said game; a winning hand defined by an initially dealt bonus card with an ace, said winning hand defeats all other hands not initially dealt with a bonus card and an ace; and one or more of said players having a winning hand when each respective point total of a players accumulated cards is achieved or are above or below said predetermined unique point total yet closer thereto than other players, and one or more said other players having a losing hand when each respective point total of a players accumulated cards is farther from said predetermined unique point total then said winning point total.
 2. A card game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined unique point total is twenty one and a half.
 3. A card game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of wagering areas, at least one within said card receiving area and one on each side of said card receiving area and there is a collection area for each wagering area.
 4. A card game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said playing surface is one or more colors and designs and said player stations are of a one or more colors generally contrast the playing surface.
 5. A card game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said card receiving area for each station is split into two areas, one to receive face down cards and said other to receive face up cards.
 6. A card game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said wagering area, said collection area and said card receiving area of each player station are areas outlined of a generally different colors and designs from the color or design of said playing surface.
 7. A card game apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said wagering areas contain numbers therein representing areas where different maximum amounts may be wagered.
 8. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type card game using a standard deck of cards where the cards are dealt to each player after each player post a wager, whereby a plurality of cards are dealt to each player, the improvement comprising the steps of: augmenting the deck by removing a plurality of cards and replacing them with a series of bonus cards; permitting each player to hit, double-down or split when the casino/dealer hand is not an initial bonus card and ace combination, the player acquiring a final player hand; dealing one or more cards to the player/dealer hand when the player/dealer hand total point value is a soft “17” or less whereby the player/dealer acquires a final deal hand; defining an original hand of two cards as having a Texas 21.5 Blackjack when there is an ace card and a bonus card; and permitting the player to surrender and recover a portion of the wager when the fact-up card of the player/dealer is not a bonus card.
 9. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type card game as recited in claim 8, including the steps of: comparing the final player hands to the final player/dealer hand; and making a payout to the player when the player hand outranks the final player/dealer hand.
 10. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type card game as recited in claim 8, wherein the Texas 21.5 Blackjack is the highest possible hand and when the player and the player/dealer each achieve a Texas 21.5 Blackjack, it is considered a push.
 12. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type card game as recited in claim 8, wherein the series of bonus cards number from one to thirty.
 13. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type card game as recited in claim 8, wherein said bonus card have a value of 9.01 to 15.00.
 14. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type card game as recited in claim 9, wherein the Texas 21.5 Blackjack value is 20.1 to 50.0.
 15. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type digital video card game played on a digital video machine, the video card game comprising the steps of: utilizing a deck of fifty-two playing cards comprising the standard spades, hearts, clubs and diamond aces through nines and sixteen bonus cards (four “W's”, four “X's”, four “Y's”, and four “Z's”); permitting each player to hit, double-down or split when the player/dealer hand face up card is not a bonus card, the player acquiring a final player hand; dealing on a video system one or more cards to the player/dealer hand when the player/dealer hand total point value is a soft “17” or less whereby the player/dealer acquires a final deal hand; defining an original hand of two cards as having a Texas 21.5 Blackjack when there is an ace card and a bonus card; and permitting the player to surrender and recover a portion of the wager when the fact-up card of the player/dealer is not a bonus card.
 16. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type video card game as recited in claim 15, wherein the Texas 21.5 Blackjack is the highest possible hand and when the player and the player/dealer each achieve a Texas 21.5 Blackjack, it is considered a push.
 17. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type video card game as recited in claim 15, wherein the series of video bonus cards number from one to thirty.
 18. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type video card game as recited in claim 15, wherein said bonus card have a value of 9.01 to 15.00.
 19. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type video card game as recited in claim 15, wherein the Texas 21.5 Blackjack value is 20.1 to 50.0.
 20. A Texas 21.5 Blackjack type video card game played live over the internet, the live internet card game comprising the steps of: utilizing a deck of fifty-two playing cards comprising the standard spades, hearts, clubs and diamond aces through nines and sixteen bonus cards (four “W's”, four “X's”, four “Y's”, and four “Z's”); permitting each player to hit, double-down or split when the player/dealer hand face up card is not a bonus card, the player acquiring a final player hand; dealing on a live video system one or more cards to the player/dealer hand when the player/dealer hand total point value is a soft “17” or less whereby the player/dealer acquires a final deal hand; defining an original hand of two cards as having a Texas 21.5 Blackjack when there is an ace card and a bonus card; and permitting the player to surrender and recover a portion of the wager when the fact-up card of the player/dealer is not a bonus card. 